Orientation Trips

Intro to the Tech Trails
Date: Saturday, August 31, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM 
Cost: FREE
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Come on up and get to know the Tech Trails with members of the Copper Country Cycling Club. If you like mountain biking and want to get some riding in before classes start, bring your bike and helmet up to the trails and have some fun! Please remember that a helmet is required to ensure your safety. Don’t have your own bike? No worries! Mountain bikes can be rented through the Outdoor Adventure Program for a nominal fee. All skill levels are welcome!

Experience Tech Paintball
Date: Saturday, August 31, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM         BUY NOW!
           Sunday, September 1, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM       BUY NOW!

Experience Paintball with some of Michigan Tech's students! Come out to meet the members of the Michigan Tech Paintball Club and play a few exciting rounds with other incoming students. There will be both speedball and woods ball games being played in recreational format. Guns and masks are provided, but bring your own equipment if you have any. The fee covers transportation, 500 rounds of paint, equipment use, and a snack.

Porcupine Mountains Day Trip
Sunday, September 1, 8:45 AM – 5:00 PM
Cost: $25.00
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Connect with other first-year students and enjoy a day outside at this magnificent state park.  This day trip gives you the change to explore one of the most scenic parts of the nearly 60,000 acres of the Porcupine Mountains (Lake of the Clouds) located just outside of Ontonagon, Michigan.  Over 100 miles of trails curve throughout a vast area of undeveloped wilderness, revealing breathtaking views, waterfalls, and wildlife.  You should plan to bring your own water bottle, insect repellent, and wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots.
 

Keweenaw Mining Adventure
Date: Sunday, September 1, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Cost: $25.00

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Take a trip into the past by visiting the Adventure Mine in Greenland, MI. After a tour of the mine, stop by a local diner for pasties. After lunch, the group will complete the three mile
round-trip hike to Silver Mountain and Sturgeon Falls. Depending on weather, students may have the option to swim near the falls. Bring sturdy hiking boots or shoes, swimsuit, towel,
water bottle, and a jacket. Your fee covers admission into the mine, transportation, and breakfast and lunch..

Hiking  in Copper Harbor
Date: Depart at 8:00 AM, Sunday, September 1 
Cost: $30.00
Meet in Lot 14 at 7:30 AM
Capacity: 40
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Enjoy kayaking on beautiful Lake Superior followed with a hike. End your night with a breathtaking view of the sunset from atop Brockway Mountain. The fee covers all meals and snacks, transportation, and kayak rentals. Overnight camping will be in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Tents will be provided, but plan to bring your own personal water bottle, insect
repellant, sunscreen, flashlight, sleeping bag, jacket, swimsuit, and towel.

Sylvania Wilderness Camping and Canoe Trip
Date: Depart at 8:00 AM Sunday, September 1 – Return Monday, September 2
Cost: $30.00
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Share an adventure with other incoming freshman and make a bond with a group of students right off the bat while visiting the rustic Sylvania Wilderness Area. With almost 19,000 acres of pristine natural growth pines, 34 named lakes, and sandy beaches, this area provides a rare outlook on nature at its finest. Spend a fun-filled weekend canoeing, hiking, swimming, and wilderness camping. The fee covers transportation, park admission, canoe rental, and food. Some camping experience is suggested, as the camping will be very rustic. Some gear is available to rent at the OAP,  www.oap.mtu.edu, and for more info about Sylvania Wilderness, please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/recreation/wilderness/.

SCUBA the Keweenaw
Date: Saturday, August 31, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $30
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Are you a certified Scuba Diver? Come explore Lake Superior with the Michigan Tech Aquanauts! We have a fully equipped dive room with gear for members (membership included with this trip). If you are not a certified diver but would like to be, we are offering certification classes at the end of September. Contact Jason Jakary (jrjakary@mtu.edu) for more information).

Date: Saturday August 31
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cost: FREE
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Help maintain and construct trails at this local natural icon!  After a hugely successful public campaign to protect the upper Hungarian Falls from private development, the Keweenaw Land Trust is now working to improve the site for the public to enjoy.  Volunteer work will likely include trail building, trash pickup, and invasive species monitoring.

Date: Saturday August 31
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cost: FREE
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The Keweenaw Land Trust owns and manages an expansive wetland along the US-41 between Hancock and Calumet.  The area has a number of walking trails and a historic farmstead, as well as beaver dams and a large pond that are home to abundant wildlife.  Volunteers will help reclaim a heritage apple orchard once used by the early settlers over 100 years ago but has now been swallowed by the encroaching forest.

Date: August 31
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cost: FREE
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The Copper Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Keweenaw Land Trust are working with a number of other local organizations and landowners to help keep hundreds of acres of hardwood forest and 3 miles of the Pilgrim River open to the public for recreational use.  Volunteers will help remove invasive species and expand the Project area’s top-notch hiking and mountain biking trails.

Date: Saturday August 31
Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Cost: FREE
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Come help Circle K, one of Michigan Tech’s service organizations, to clean up Hancock Beach and park area. Afterwards we will be having a BBQ to hang out and enjoy our hard work.  If you want to get involved with the local community, the campus community or just make friends come join us as we do our part to better the world.  Transportation is provided along with work gloves, but if you wish to bring your own work gloves that is also encouraged. All you have to do is show up expecting to have some fun!

Date: Saturday August 31
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: FREE
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Do you like to play board games? And helping the elderly?  Join us to visit the residents of The Bluffs Retirement Home and bring some pep in their step!

Sand Casting
Date: Sunday, September 1
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $5.00
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This session will introduce you to sand casting, one of the methods used to make metallic objects. This is a hands-on workshop as you will make and get to take home an aluminum replica of some already existing pattern. We have many interesting patters, but encourage  you to bring simple objects to cast (single-piece plastic toys, apples, bowls, ect.).

Blacksmithing
Date: Sunday, September 1
Time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cost: $5.00
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1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

This session will introduce you to blacksmithing, a traditional method used to make metallic objects. This is a hands-on workshop as you will be using a hammer and anvil to create your own custom object. In this workshop, you will have the option of making a decorative candle holder or a camping fork.

Date: Saturday August 31
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: FREE
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Come volunteer with Copper Country Habitat for Humanity this weekend from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and work on building simple, decent, and affordable housing for those in need. The build will be in Calumet, MI and will consist of working on the interior of the house such as installing cabinets and putting in the trimming. This event will be limited to 10 students and lunch will be provided.

Date: Saturday August 31
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: FREE
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Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly is a national network of non-profit, volunteer-based organizations committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly.  Volunteers will be assigned to tasks based on personal abilities and interest, ranging from preparing wood to distribution to local elderly.